"Maybe people were on vacation and their checks got misfiled. Some of them are as old as 1999," City Treasurer Phil Molina said. "Exactly why these people didn't cash their checks is something I really don't know."

CLOSE

Here's how to find out if Oxnard owes you money.
Yazmin Cruz

In some cases, money was seized by the police department during an arrest. Once the case is adjudicated, explained Police Chief Scott Whitney, the department sends a postcard reminder for the person to claim their money. In other cases, checks from overpayment of utility bills and business licenses were never cashed.

"We owe them this money and we want to pay them," Molina said.

A searchable list is currently on the city's website and includes names like Oxnard High School, Ventura County Sheriff's Office and the defunct Fresh & Easy market.

Molina plans to publish the names in a local newspaper sometime in November. Once published, the community has 45 days to file a claim to get their money back. Any unclaimed money will go toward the city's general fund.

"By January or so, the money will be placed in the general fund," Molina said. "People have a very short time in which to file those claims. They can do that now."

The $366,000 of unclaimed money has been accumulating since 1999. The responsibility of publishing the names falls on the city treasurer but past treasurers in that elected role have not done so.

Molina, who was elected last year, said staff members in the past had informed management about the unclaimed money. He's not sure why the list wasn't published earlier.

"Perhaps it was not one of the priorities at the time," he said.

Molina said he plans to publish such a list every year.

To see the list of names and to download a claim form, visit www.oxnard.org and look under "Oxnard News." Call 385-7877 for more information.